Miss England has had to hand back her crown after an alleged nightclub brawl.

Rachel Christie, the niece of Olympic sprinter Linford Christie, has been accused of punching fellow beauty queen Sara Beverley Jones in the face in a row over her boyfriend.

Miss Christie, 21, who has been withdrawn from next month's Miss World contest in South Africa, is also a heptathlete who hopes to win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.

The pair allegedly got into an fight in a Manchester club after Miss Jones, 24, showed Miss Christie, from Kensington, a provocative message she claimed was from Miss Christie's boyfriend — television gladiator David McIntosh. McIntosh, 23, stars as Tornado in the Sky1 series Gladiators. The former marine used to date Miss Jones, who is the current Miss Manchester.

It is claimed, after seeing the message, Miss Christie hit Miss Jones "several times" in the face in the Mansion club in the city centre.

The alleged attack happened during a porn-themed night in the early hours of Monday, where Miss Christie was dressed as an angel, and Miss Jones was dressed as a cavegirl. Miss Christie's spokesman said: "She can't go through to Miss World with this hanging over her. She is really devastated by what has been alleged but we are fully supporting her.

"She will be concentrating on her Olympic training and we will be backing her."

Following the altercation, Miss Jones was taken to hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and discharged. Miss Christie, who was the first black woman to be crowned Miss England, was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed until January.

The Miss England website said: "Due to media attention following the allegations against Miss Christie, Rachel has now decided to withdraw from the Miss World competition and relinquish her Miss England crown. Rachel will concentrate on clearing her name and focus on training for the 2012 Olympics until this case is resolved.

"Rachel is very upset about the matter and the Miss England organiser Angie Beasley and Miss World chairman Julia Morley will support her and are behind her with her Olympic training."

A spokesman for Manchester Police said: "At about 12.55am on Monday 2 November, police received a report of an assault at a club.

"It is believed that, earlier that night, a 24-year-old woman got into an altercation with another woman in the club and was hit in the face several times.

"The victim was taken to Hope Hospital. A 21-year-old woman... was arrested on suspicion of assault."